Daily Republican., 1887-02-07
ARAILROAD HORRoR.

"A Vermont Central Train Breaks
Through n Bridge, and the Wreck II
Consumed By Tiro-Forty Persons
Killed and Burned to Death.
HARTFORD, Vt, Feb, 5.--0ne of the
most frightful accidents In the history OF
railroading In this country occurred at
the bridge over the White river, between
this place and West Hartford, miles
from White River Junction, at about 2
o'clock this morning. Two sleeping cars
and two passenger coaches plunged from
the slight bridge to the frozen surface OF
the river, some 90 feet below. To add to
the horror Of the wreck, which was COM
plete in itself, the cars, partially immers-
ed in the freezing cold water, took fire,
aud the lew who managed to escape saw
their fellow passengers, who had escaped
death in the wreck, slowly roasted to
death.
No definite information as to the mum
Der OF people killed is possible. Tho
trunks Of 80 bodies chaIred beyond recoe
milton and OF three persons who were
killed, but were not burned, had beer
recovered at euBset, anil one car had moi
been examined. The loss is yarionsly es
timated at from 80 upward to even al
great number as 70. Estimates al tt
the number of passengers on the ill-fatet
train vary widely at from 10 to 1875, th'
former being the "ofiicial" estimate, III,
latter that OF passengers.
! The wrecked train was that known a
the Boston aud Montreal express. 1t wa
made up of two sections, the Boston sec
ton consisting Of the Pullman sleepin,
car Puritan, passenger coach, smokin,
lear, and mail and express cars. To thi
sect.on was ADDED the sleeping car ct
Albans and passenger coach from
|Springfeld, Mass, at White River juno
tion. A broken rail, or the breaking o
a car wheel. did the mischief The loco
motive, postal car, baggage and smokinI
car passed over the bridge In safety, bu
1.-THE two Pullman cars and the two pas
Isengers coaches with their crowd of pa.
sengers went whirling over the abutmen
to the surface of the frozen river, there
be crushed and broken, and then burne
with nearly all on board, but Ave person
Iescaping from the wreck uninjuret
Those who were killed or burned I
Ideath In the Pullman coaches were
their night clothing.
i STATEMENTS or SURVIVORS.
One OF the first passengers to escaI
from the burning wreck was Joseph Mail
meta French Canadian boy living in Shat
wigan, Ca He was with his father, Davi
Meienet, on their way from Holyoke
their home. The boy sat three seate b
hind his father, In the third car from th
Irear. He was dosing In his seat when b
felt the car shiver. This motion wa
kept up for few seconds, and then tn
lear dashed over the bridge upon the Ice
IBy hard work the boy succeeded in gel
ting out OF one OF the car windows, ,whicl
Istlll held its shape. Joseph at once wen
In search of his father, and discovcre,
him, by the light OF the burning wreck
age, Just above him, pinned down by
part OF the car, which had fallen directl
acrsss bis chest and legs, Toe old ma
was as firmly held as II in wise, Josep
| was the only one VINO e,cap from th
car, as he says, rushed to his fathers a.
ssletance and spoke words Of encourage
lment to him. The father wss very coC
under the circumstances, and told hi
son to help him out as soon as possible
The boy seized his father and struggle
with all his strength to e1tricate him, ,bu
in vain. The flames were approachin
trapidly. "Jossph," said the father, cru
land get an axe or saw!' but the bo
Icould not find either "Pull me ou
then. " said the father, "even if you hay
to break my legs to do It," Joseph tug
Igcd away with all his might, but coul
not stir his father an inch, With woI
!derful coolntss the father gave himself u
to his fate. "It's no use. my boy" b
said; there is no hope for me. Leay
me and save yourself. But remember th
Edying words Of your father, always bs
good boy. Farewell, my son! will met
! you In the other world" The flame
were then so close at hand that the b.
Icould remain no longer lie left hi
father and got out OF reach Of the flames
and watched his parent slowly burn ;
ideath In the flaming debris.
w. II Lee Of Buylin2ton, VI say
that about five minutes bsfore the acc
Ident occurred he left the for ward cOac
land went into the sDokls car, whic
was q smoking car and baggage Ca
lcom bined. There were in the car bu
J three or four others. The first In tuna
tion that they had of anything wrop
was two or three sharp jerks and the
q sound Rs IL the train had broken epar'
The remnant of the train WAS stoppe
when it reached this side of ths brlds
and Lee aud Bert Perkins went bao
lover the bridge and peered down, bu
could not distinguish anything plainly
u They then ran &c the opposite eud {
tho bridge, wl ere the e1tankment
How, anc as they went they uoticed tbs
Iuoue OF the rails were brokfn To
, four cars which had partially broke
: through the Ice were partly overturned
Members OF the resoniDg party hs
lsucceeded in taking . nuuDer OF tn
wou u~ded from the wreck, all of whor
ere taken back under tha bfid u
; soon tie spreading of the frs TO ,h
bridge rendered their removal peoel
sary, and they were taken TO house
near by in teame.
Soon after the accident man wa
lnoticsd leaning oa the edge of one c
Itue cars and calling to his wifa, saying
i"Msry. are you there?' Nd auewe
came, aud theh he LEANED back an
| noansd in his anguish. When Mr.. La
iIookei at him again he WAS gone, An
H. is supposed that he jumped into til
wreck au0 perisb.d with his wife. II
Thinks there were at least 20 injure
whom he could not reach.
THE LATEST PARTICULARS
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Feb 6 =
lSaVen or eight bodies were TO day iden
itif, d by friends, and many haartrend
ling scenes were witnessed.
| ThB ruins have been searched ar
probably all recovered that can be. Tn
Iron work OF the cars has all bet n pulles
lover snd cleared away. The total mum
Der of bodls recovered today Is five
lone woman and four men. Drs Grin
Inell and Bingham OF Burlington hav,
lin day thCroughly axamined tht cherrel